Center for State and Local Policy
With decision-making moving increasingly to the state and local arenas, preservationists need to be able to influence elected officials through coordinated and sustained advocacy efforts in the states. The National Trust created the Center for State and Local Policy to empower a network of statewide and local preservation-minded organizations around the country to positively influence public policy in their states and communities.
How Can the Center Help You in Your Community? The Center for State and Local Policy provides educational materials focused on the specific needs and issues confronting preservation interests. The Center provides: 1) information focused on public policy development and advocacy and targeted to the specific needs and issues confronting statewide and local preservation groups, including Main Street organizations; 2) a comprehensive preservation advocacy training program; and 3) direct technical assistance on advocacy matters to advocates nationwide.
Information
The Center for State and Local Policy provides educational materials focused on the specific needs and issues confronting preservation interests. The Model Public Policies series provides an analysis of specific preservation policies and examples of best practices at the state and local level.
- State Rehabilitation Tax Credits
- Context Sensitive Solution in Transportation Planning
- Innovative Ways to Generate State Funding
- Preserving Historic Schools
- Adopting 21st Century Codes for Historic Buildings
- Approaches to Managing Teardowns
Advocacy Training
The Center for State and Local Policy offers a comprehensive preservation advocacy training program, while the Advocacy Training Manual provides information on shaping public policy to preservation groups and Main Street organizations.
- Working with an Advocacy Coalition
- Developing a Grassroots Network
- Communicating with Elected Officials
Would you like to help train local citizens how to advocate on behalf of preservation? Contact policy@nthp.org or call 202-588-6167 for more details.
Technical Assistance
The Center for State and Local Policy provides direct technical assistance on a range of issues – including rehabilitation tax credits, building codes, funding sources, and historic schools – to communities across the country. For assistance with your preservation policy issue, call 202-588-6167 or email policy@nthp.org. Examples of technical assistance include:
- Helping to develop strategies for advocacy campaigns
- Providing guidance on legislative language
- Providing statistics/data to support the economic case for historic preservation
- Providing sample testimony
- Suggesting ways of expanding grassroots support and encourage effective coalitions
- Providing educational materials that can be shared with elected officials, advocates, and media
- Sharing successful advocacy startegies of other organizations
- Speaking at state and local conferences, events, and workshops
